Marrakesh - (Fall 2025) - Day 2
Riad/Hotel
This was the resident cat
Her name was “Kitty” which makes me think that it just showed up one day and was like “I’m going to stay here, cool?”
People say that you should stay in a riad in the Medina to get a true Marrakesh experience. A riad is usually a house turned into a guesthouse. It typically has an open atrium in the center and often an outside deck upstairs. Ours was located down some non-descript hard to find alley.
The inside was very nice and had AC in the room. The only weird/different thing was that the bathroom didn’t have a proper door, just a curtain.
You get a simple breakfast in the morning consisting of some bread and pastries along with coffee and juice.
The riad was not far from one of the royal palaces
The area around it always had a lot of guards present
Mandala Society
Today was the day of the walking tour. We had time before the tour so stopped to find some coffee. This very nice restaurant was just off the main square and had several levels of seating including some outdoor seating on the top floor. I believe this restaurant had a few locations in Marrakesh.
Marrakesh Walking Tour
Seems like every tour operator started at 9 am at the same place as this spot became full of tourists gathering together in the morning
The snake charmers started to set up their areas in the morning and warmed up their snakes in the main square
You could find many bundles of fresh and dried mint leaves everywhere for the drink of choice around here: mint tea
Koutoubia Mosque
We spent a good amount of time outside largest mosque in the city originally established around 900 years ago. The guide took time to explain the history of the city as a trading center as well as about the Berber people in the mountains. Off to the side there is an archeological exhibition showing the configuration of the original mosque.
Park Lalla Hasana
This park is right next to the Koutoubia Mosque and it has a couple of fountains with the mosque in the background so it was very popular with needing their Instagram moment. Got a cup of coffee from the vendor in the park for about $1.
Our guide explained the two types of busses if you choose that mode of transportation to the Atlas Mountains.
The larger one in the photo is the normal more expensive bus. The smaller one in front allows animals on it so you may be sitting next to goats or chickens if you choose that bus.
Bab er Robb Gate
One of the famous gates to the city. The actual historic gate is actually next to the road gate in this photo.
Bab Agnaou Gate
Just next to the Bab er Robb Gate, this gate is famous for being the original entrance into the kasbah in the southern part of the medina where the ancient royal structures were located.
Moulay al-Yazid Mosque (Kasbah Mosque)
The mosque, like many structures in Morocco were undergoing repairs or shoring up due to a large earthquake in 2023 situated in the Atlas Mountains.
There were a few places along the medina walls where they had horse carriage rides for tourists
We passed through an archway that the guide said had been in movie scenes before while walking around the outside of the El Badi Palace ruins .
Signs often have Berber along with Arabic here
Walking through the narrow residential alleys of the medina
Medina Home Doors
The guide explained the significance of the door designs that you see in the old town. He showed us an older home that still had the traditional doors. There were protocols as to which door knock to use depending on whether you were a visitor and different parts of the door would be open depending on the situation. Women would also not open the doors if home alone and they would obtain goods from the balconies above if necessary.
A smaller Market square on the southern end of the medina
The guide highly recommended this restaurant at the corner of the main square but we never got around to trying it
Snack La Place
Needing some food after a long walking tour, this place offered up a satisfying snack. It is also located along the edge of the main square.
Walking around the medina
After lunch we wandered around the medina for a while exploring the souks and alleys and little squares.
La Salama
There are not a ton of bars in the medina but this was one of them and became my favorite hangout because they have a few seats on the second floor that are on a balcony and have a view of the street. Most of the space including an upstairs deck was devoted to dining. We also didn’t realize they sometimes have belly dancing and head lamp dancing at night.
Cafe de France
I think this would be considered the oldest bar in Marrakesh if they still served alcohol
This was the kind of place where you could feel the old glory that it was. I assume back in the day they did serve drinks here but I believe the country is leaning a bit more conservative these days so it was just tea and coffee for us. Maybe they serve drinks upstairs on the deck but I didn’t explore that option.
Places like these are very popular at sunset as you can see the main square activity as well as enjoy the day cooling off as the sun sets. The location makes it a great place for enjoying cafe culture.
La Pergola
This is another place in the medina that has a proper bar setting. It is situated inside a fancy hotel. It is called a riad but it is more hotel than riad. You go upstairs past the atrium pool and there is a bar with a terrace and seating where you can enjoy a cocktail. We were able to get a seat during the day but it seems at night the place is packed.
Moorish Kitchen and Coffee
Found this place for dinner in the medina. They were kind enough to make me a kefta tangine even though it was off the menu at the time. There was a cat and I asked the waiter its name and he said “Stranger.” Apparently the cat just decided to come and make itself at home one day and the restaurant lets it stay even thought they are not thrilled about it because the guests seem to like it.